Will Archambault scored 24 points, including a three-pointer in the final minute and a half that put the game out of reach, to lead Davidson to the 86-71 win over the College of Charleston men's basketball team in front of 4,619 fans at Belk Arena.
The Cougars dropped their second straight for just the second time this season and fell to 13-8 overall and 8-2 in the Southern Conference. Davidson improved to 10-11 and 5-4 in the league.
Charleston took a five-point lead with 14:47 remaining in the second half, 50-45, before Davidson clawed back to tie the game, 54-54 at the 12:43 mark. After Cougar Tony White Jr. (Knoxville, Tenn.), cut the margin to two with 5:39 to go, the Wildcats broke open the game, outscoring the Cougars 16-3 down the stretch. Up by eight with 2:23 remaining, Archambault nailed a three-pointer to give the Wildcats a double-digit lead, putting the game out of the grasp of the Cougars.
The Cougars stormed out of the gate in the first half, outscoring the Wildcats 23-9, to build its largest lead of the game at 14 with 12:16 remaining in the half. Charleston only scored 13 the remainder of the half as the Davidson offense came alive for 27 points, including a jumper by JP Kuhlman with 1:13 to go that tied the game at 36. After missed threes on both ends of the court over the next minute, the half ended in the 36-36 deadlock.
Andrew Goudelock (Lilburn, Ga.) recorded his second consecutive 20-point game and eighth in his last nine to lead the Cougars with 22 points along with White, Jr. He had a streak of 20 straight free throws snapped tonight, going five-for-six from the charity stripe. Casaan Breeden paced the team in rebounds with eight.
Following Archambault's 24, was Kuhlman with 19 for Davidson. Steve Rossiter led the Wildcats with 10 rebounds to go along with his 11 points.
The Cougars shot 45.8 percent from the field, compared to 50.0 percent for Davidson. Charleston, which had a school record 19 three-pointers at Western Carolina this past Monday, connected on seven tonight, with only two coming in the second half. Davidson was nine-for-21. The Wildcats held the 36-30 advantage in rebounds and had two less turnovers, 6-8.
Charleston continues its road trek Saturday, Jan. 30 with a 1 p.m. game at Georgia Southern.
